[pianotech] undisciplined kids

[paul bruesch]

Depending on my mood at the moment, I would probably calmly ask the kid to
please play quietly so I can think. The kid is doing what kids do, given
the opportunity. But by asking the kid to play quietly, you're not angrily
saying to quit making all that noise, you're just asking for some respect,
which the parents apparently have not taught and do not expect, and most
kids (in my experience) respond well to that.

Paul Bruesch
Stillwater, MN


On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 3:52 PM, David Nereson <da88ve at gmail.com> wrote:

>    The customer calls and wants an assessment of their piano, how much
> work it will need, what condition it's in, how much it will cost.  So you
> go and do your estimate and the dreaded 7 year old comes in and starts
> pounding on the keys.  Then you call the parent to give them your
> assessment, and while you're trying to talk to them, they *allow the kid
> to keep pounding away on the keys.  They make absolutely no effort to make
> the kid stop *so you can hear yourself think, hear the customer, and
> speak in a normal tone of voice.  I just don't get it!  ("Oh, we can't
> stifle his creativity; we can't interrupt his precious expression of
> musical feeling.").
>      I glance back and forth between the client and the kid, giving every
> possible body language indication that it's *really *hindering my ability
> to communicate with them and remain professional.  But no, he's just an
> innocent kid; it would be inhumane to make him stop. Today I almost reached
> over to sweep his arms away from the keys, but stopped myself.   I just
> don't get it.  If I were the insurance adjuster or tax accountant, or even
> Grandpa, would they let the kid bang away like that when we're trying to
> talk?  AAArrrggghhh!!@#%#$%^#^#@!!!!!
>     --David Nereson, RPT
>
>
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